Lock-throw mechanism



April 27, 1948. F, E, BEST 2,440,430

LOCK THROW MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 8, 1942 |40 l il; "fl l a3 n 4 "A, f

INVENTOR Patented Apr. 27, 1948 UNITED `STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 2,440,430 LOCK-THROW MECHANISM Frank Ellison Best, Indianapolis, Ind.

Original application January 8, 1942, Serial No. 425,952. Divided and this application January 15, 1945, Serial No. 572,903

l i Nature and obiect This is a divisional application of my co-pending application on Unpickable lock, filed January 8, 1942, Serial No.` 425,952, now abandoned.

This invention pertains to lock-throw transmission means adapted to function between a primary and a secondary lock mechanism, and is particularly adaptedfor use in locks incorporating the lock-controlled assembly feature in which the lock consists of a primary lock mechanism called a core and a secondary lock mechanism called a housing, said core and said housing being adapted to be releasably locked together by key means.

The principal object of this invention is to provide lock-throw transmission means of novel and eiiicient construction "rior connecting a secondary lock-throw member with a key-operated part of a `primary lock `mechanism in such a manner that lost motion will be provided for the key-operated `member before land after a period of transmitted lock throw movement of the sec ondary mechanism.

A second object is to so construct the transmission means that any desired angular movement may be imparted to the secondary lo'ck throw member `by a uniform angular movementV of the primarykey operated member.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In master-keyed systems of such locks in which the housings are all provided with identical core reception features adapted to receive identical or similarly functioning cores, it oftens happens that the secondary mechanisma by the very nature of the case require `different angular movements of their actuating mechanisms. For instance, when the secondary mechanism constitutes the secondary partof a padlock, a movement of only a few degrees of angular motion of the actuating mechanism is all that is ordinarily required ordesired, while when the secondary mechanism constitutes `acylinder lock used as the primary unit of some types of mortise door locksa complete revolutionor` more of the sec ondary throw mechanism isoften desired.

Hence, in such a system, itis desired that a transmission mechanism be inserted that can be varied to compensate for the differences required and at the same time utilize, in said system of locks, cores of common housing-mating features and having common angular-throw `delivering features.` i l `12 Claims. (Cl. YQ-379) Description of figures In the accompanying drawings, Figure ll is a view in longitudinal section taken substantially' on broken lines of Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, showing a lock throw transmission mechanism constructed in accordancewith my invention= showing the connecting parts of primary driver means and secondary driver means.

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on broken line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross -section taken on broken line 4*4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on broken line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Structural description I driver 83.

The throw means, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this lock, is positioned between the plate member M0 and the end 4| of the housing. This` throw means 'includes vgears and gear segments that are arranged to provide lost motion while the key 42 of thelock core 68 is being moved in certain portions of its cycle, and to provide a change in the gear ratio while the key is being moved through other portions of its cycle.

Three rigid arms |51, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, are provided on the platemember |40 and extend toward the end 4I of the lock housing. A circular plate I 58 is riveted or otherwise'rigidly secured to theend portions of the arms |5`|iand rests against the end 4| of the housing. A secondary throw member |59, Fig. 1, is journaled in the plate |58 and in the housingend 4| and ex` tends to the exterior of the primary lock mecha` nism. i This throw member |59 may be connected with any desired secondary lockmecha- ,nism foroperating the same.

l A gear'wheel |60, Figs. 1 and 2, is rigidly con--` nected with the throw member |59 lock housing.'

A number of gear segments IBI, positioned within the lock housing 40, mesh with `the gearwheel I B0, Figs. 1 and 2. Each gear segment l-El has two surfaces |62 positioned at approximately right angles to each other and adapted to engage with the sides of the'lock housing 4i! to limit angular movement of theV gear segments |6| to substantially ninety degrees. Obviously within Vthe the amount of angular movement allowed to the gear segments |6I may be varied by varying their shape. Also the gear ratio between segments I6! and gearwheel |66 may be varied to secure more or less angular movement of the throw member |59 in proportion to a given movement of the gear segments IBI. l

Each gear segment fl has a transverse spline or key |63, Figs. land 3, von one side'that ts into a suitable keyway |64 in another gear segment 65 and locks the two gear segments IGI and |65 against relative turning movement. A :rivet I 65 extends axially through each pair of gear seg ments I! and |65 and cooperates'withthe spline means :|63 to complete a rigid'connectionbetween the two gear segments |6E 'and 465. of ieachpair.k

To facilitate construction, gear segments |64 and |65 are preferably made of two pieces, butl obviously they would function and serve in the same manner if made of one piece.

Each gear segment IGI and '|65 has a cylindrical hub member |161 .on its outermost side, Figs. .-1 and 5. Thehub members |161 of the gear segments IiiI are -journaled .in .the end .plate L58` `while the hub members i 61 of thegear segments y|65 are ,-journaled vin the plate member |46. This provides lbearing means rigid with the lock housing Vfor each pair -of V.gear segments. Preferably the. openings. in .the plate :44S ythat receive the hubs |61 are blind openings rthat do not extend 'entirely through -said plate 1| 46.

Each gear segment |65 has two `surfaces 16B positioned at substantially .right 4angles to yeach other and adapted to engage with the wall :of the housing f4.6 sto limit vthe Langular. movement of .the gear segments I S5 to substantially ninetyfdegrees. If no other stop means were provided in the lock these gear segments wouldstop rotary movement of the'core'partsfat the end oftheoperativefcycle.

Eachgearsegment '|65 also has one relatively long gear Itooth :|169 fand .twonelativelygs'hort lgear teeth L16 positioned zon opposite Vsidesof `the long gear tooth |69. L

'The :gear Vsegments -|55 cooperate 'with aan interrupted gear of novel construction :that iszmade up iora 'thicker gear member :E1 I 'and a thinner disc like member :I1-2 secured `together' by :ri-vets or pins |13, see Figs. 1, 'Band 4. .The thicker-gear member .|11 lis `provided at three v,equidistantly spaced apart .points with pairs .of gear teeth |14.

VSmooth Varcuate sections |=15 are provided `on the periphery .of the gear member .|.'|'|V between the pairs of gear teeth 1414.

The .arcuate sections .|15 'are formed :at the proper radial idistancei from vthe center ofithefgeazc' members |11 :so :that they will barelytouchtor will .be clearfof the endszofuthezshorter .teeth H6 ofwthegear segments 1.65. The recesses --I 1-6 :be-

tween thetwo lteeth |14 of each pairofteetharev deep enough :for the reception of Athe longer agear teeth |69 of the fgear segments' 165.

The vdisc like member V|12 has ithree :recesses |11 in its .periphery that :are of the same .shape and depth as the recesses 11.6 nndzregister with saidrecesses .1.16. IoA facilitate construction, the gearparts 115| :and .|12 are preferably made intwo. pieces but obviously they would function 'fin .the same manner if made `in .one piece.

.The longer gear 'teeth |69 ofthesegm'ents L55 overlap vthe Adisc .members 4H2, vWhile Ithe shorter gear `teeth :|10 thereofare onlyco-ext'ensive with the :gear mem-bers IJI'I and do 'not :overlap 1lthe disc' members |12.

The bladevlike 'end of member 283, comprising the primary .throw member, entends *through the interrupted gear formed by parts |1I and |12 and constitutes a primarily operated means for angularly moving or driving this interrupted gear VII-|12.

Obviously if the interrupted gear Ill- |12 is moved clockwise from the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 it will rst move through an angle of approirimately sixtydegrees Without -rotatively moving `the segments |65. While this movement is taking place the long teeth I 69 are supported on the periphery of the disc |12 and the arcuate sections |15 are moving past the short teeth |10 without tending to turn the gear segments |65. At the vend o'f a period of idling movement the .gear 'teeth |14 on .the interrupted gear I1| will encounter the short teeth |10 of the gear segments ;|65 `and fat'this same time the long teeth |69 of segments |65 will register with the recesses |16. This starts rotation of the gear segments and turns them through an angle of approximately ninety degrees; .after which the long-gear teeth G9a-gain engage with the periphery .of .the .discg|12, and .clockwise rotary VVmovement -of the interrupted lgear |1.|-I12 .may continue .through substantially :another -sixty degrees whilethegearsegments |=65..idle.and do not turn. l.Upon .reverse lor counterclockwise .movement ofthe interrupted gear Ill-.|112 .the -gearpsegments .|65 will .besim-ilarly -operated in a reverse.

direction Eto provide .alternate .idling .and .operating .periods of .said segments. Thus .if angular movement of thekey in the locksta-rts -at the beginning .of an .idling periodof .the @gear segments |65 and continues to the end of the next .idling period of said .gear segments L65 it will provide, for .the throw member |159, .first anidling period, then a v.period lof operation, Yand thenanother idling period while the key and @primary lock mechanism are continuously moved.

.The .object .of the .idle .or lazy motion during the Arst part .of .the primary .mechanisms .motion. is .to aord .pick .up .and vtrial..portions of the primary mechanisms motion'before rotative movementis transmitted to the secondarymechanism. l'The object of the. VVidle .or lazy. motion after vthe .operating phase `of lthe .primary mech.- ani'sms motionv is fto affordA .an `overtravel -of the primary mechanism-without actuating the `secondary mechanism .for 'lock-controlled assembly purposes of the lprimary mechanism .constituting a lock core 68.

Housing 46 is provided with internal lugs '160, 6| and 62 'adapted to .form fit lugs |4| .ofplate |40 to prevent rotative movement Aof the trans.- mission .mechanism as awhole relative to said housing 40.

The transmission element as a whole is secured against endwise displacement .in housing 46 by end 4| `and otherwise such as Vby press itting plate `Hill in housing 40;

. Operation.

At the time that .the prnnarysnver as ,begins to move clockwise irom the starting l.position which'is the position shown, the interrupted gear ITI- |12 o'f 'the throw mechanism will sirnul` one o'ftne smooth peripheral surfacesll! of said interrupted gear member'l 1| During" clockwise movement oi the primary driver 83 through a pickup and trial portion of the l'ock cores cycle, the interrupted gear I'H- |72 will move rotatively without turning thegear segments I 65 on their axes.` At substantially the time the driver 83 reaches the end of the trial portion of its movement a short tooth of each gear segment |65 will be engaged by a tooth IMof the gear member |II and the gear segments |65 will begin to move rotatively, the long teeth- |69 entering the recesses |11 and |16, see Figs. 4 and 3. These gear segments |65,V as

illustrated, will be rotated through an angle ofI substantially ninety degrees while the'key and gear member ITI-|12 are moving clockwise through Ythe sixty degrees representing the operating portion of the cores cycle. The recesses I'I'I and |16 receive the longer teeth |69 as `the gear segments |65 rotate. At the end of about ninety Ydegrees of rotary movement of the gear segments I B5 the long tooth |69 of each gear segment |65 vwill againrest on a peripheral portion of the disc |'I2 and will prevent further rotary movement of the gear segments |65 in the eventthe driver 83 is turned beyond the end of the operating portion of the cycle.

It is intended that the only key that can and will turn driver 83 beyond the end of the operating portion of the cycle is a control key when it isbeing used for the removal of the lock, core from the lock housing 40, all as set forth in my cci-pending application.

Rotation of the gear segments |65 is transmitted directly to the gear segments I6| which, in the present instance, act through the gear member I 60 to rotatively move the throw member |59 through the same angle as the gear segments |65 and |6| but in the opposite direction.

From the above described operation of the throw mechanism it will be apparent that said throw mechanism provides lost motion at the beginning of the cycle of operation of the driver 83 to prevent turning of the throw member |59 while the parts of the lock core mechanism are being moved through the pick-up and trial portion of their cycle. Also it will be apparent that this throw mechanism will transmit substantially ninety degrees of rotary movement to the throw member |59 while the driver 83 is moving through substantially sixty degrees of the operating portion of the cycle. Also it will be apparent that this throw mechanism is capable of providing for substantially sixty degrees of lost motion beyond the end of the operating portion of the cycle in the event the lock core is to be removed from the housing. Obviously other desired gear ratios between the key operated driver 83 and the throw member |59 and other degrees of lazy motion both before and after the operating -cycle can be obtained by varying the relative sizes of the gear members |6| and |60 and related parts.

This throw mechanism is further adapted to provide corresponding inverse lost motion and rotary motion of the several parts of the throw mechanism as driver 83 is rotatively moved in a counterclockwise direction from the end of the operating or control position back to the starting position.

In many types of locks the throw mechanism herein disclosed is enlarged and changed in many ways. For instance the hub of one of the gears |6| may rbe made the main throw member in the secondary lock mechanism in case it is desirable .the lock housing. Such a` `set-up is disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No.A 2,138,856, issued De- /cember 6, 1938.

When this structure is used the throw pin is aligned on the axis of the' lock core and any forcible rotatingof core and housing could not unlock the secondary lock.

` Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and dsire to secure -by Letters Patent is: J

1. In a lock, two lock throw members, andlost motion means interconnecting said two lock throw members providing lost motion therebetween at theV beginning and end of a period of lock operation. 1

2. In a lock, two lock throw members, and interrupted gear means interconnecting said two lockthrow members providing lost motion therebetween at the beginning and end of a .period of lock operation.

'3. In a lock having a lock core locked within a housing and removable by the operation of a'key, two lock throw niembers'and lost motion means interconnecting' said` two lock throw members providing lost motion therebetween at the beginning and endbf' a periodof lock operation.

4. In a lock having a lock "core locked within a housing by keyoperated means, two lock throw members,`and interrupted gear means interconnecting said two lock throw mem-bers providing lost motion therebetween at the beginning and end 'of aperiod'of lock operation.

5. In a lock having a lock core locked within a housing by key operated means, two lock 'throw members, and change speed interrupted gear means interconnecting said two lock throw members providing lost motion therebetween at the beginning and end of a period of lock operations and providing variable speed therebetween during lock operation.

6. In a secondary lock mechanism, a primary and a secondary throw member, said primary throw member being adapted to be actuated by key means, and, in turn, being adapted to actuate the secondary throw member, lostmotion means interconnecting said throw members and providing periods of lost motion ahead of, and following, the period of transmitted motion employed in unlocking the lock.

7. In a secondary lock mechanism adapted to house a removable core, a primary and a secondary throw member, said primary throw member being adapted to be actuated by key means, and, -in turn, being adapted to actuate the secondary throw member, lost motion means interconnecting said throw members and providing a. period of lost motion following the period of the transmitted motion employed in unlocking the lock.

8. In a secondary lock mechanism, a primary and a secondary throw member, said primary throw member being adapted to be actuated by key means, and, in turn, being adapted to actuate the secondary throw member, lost motion means interconnecting said throw members and providing a period of lost motion following the period of the transmitted motion employed in unlocking the lock, for core removal purposes.

9. In a secondary lock mechanism, adapted to house a removable key-operated lock core, a primary and a secondary throw member, said `primary throw member being adapted to be actuated by key means through substantially of rotary motion of said core means, from its; keyinsertion position, for lockioperatve purposes ari-d'y through an additional substantially 60 of rotary motion for core removal purposes, saidv secondary throw member being adapted to be actuated by the primary throw member only during the aforesaid 120 of rotary motion of said primary throw member, lost motion means interconnecting said throw members and providinf,YK a period of idle overtravel of -said primary throwV member during said additional 60 of core means movement for core removal purposes.

10. In a secondary lock mechanism, adapted to house a removable key-'Operated lock core, a primary and a secondary Vthrow member, said primary throw member being adapted to be actuated by key means through a core-removing cycle of practically 180 of rotary motion between its key-insertion and core-removal positions, said secondary throw member being adapted to be actuated by the primary throw member only during practically the middle 60 of said 180 of rotary motion ef said primary throw member, lost motion means interconnecting said throw mem' bers and providing periods of substantially 60 of lost motion before and after said middle 60? of transmitted motion.

l1. In a secondary lock mechanism, adapted to house a removable key-operated'lock core, a primary and a secondary throw member,` said primary throw member beingv adapted to be actuated by key means through a core-removing cycle of practically 180 of rotary motion from its key-insertion to its core-removal position, said secondary throw member being. adapted 'to be.

12. In a secondary lock-mechanism, adapted to house a removable key-operated' lock core, a:- primary andl a secondary throw member, said primary throw member beingV adapted to be actuated by key means throughz a core-remtwingV cycle of practically 1805 of rotary motion from its key-insertion to its core-removal position', said'v secondary throw member being 'adapted toI be actuated by the primary throw memberr only during practically the middle 60 of said 180 of rotary motion of said primary throw member, vand'- gear means adapted to'convert said middle` 60 of saidv motion of said primary throw member into another number of degrees of angular m0 tion in said secondary throw member.

FRANK ELLISON BEST.

REFERENCES CITED.

The following references are of record inA the le of this patent: Y

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name DateV 978,964 Voight Dec. 20, 19.10 2,049,742 Lowe Aug. 4, 1936' 

